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==Introduction==There are a select number of literary works whose characters have entered the public imagination. One of these is the ‘Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’. This work on the nature of good and evil in human nature has spawned countless movies, plays, television shows, comics, and movies. The two main characters have come to represent the duality of human nature and split personalities. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, although written in the 19th century is still as relevant today, as over a century ago. This article discusses the possible sources that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write a great horror story. It will examine the possible literary sources for the classic of the supernatural genre. Then it identifies possible candidates for the real-life characters who inspired Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.[[File: Jekyll and Hyde 1.png|200px250px|thumbthumbnail|left|Jekyll and Hyde book cover]]==The story behind the novel==Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) is one of the greatest of all Scottish writers and the author of many memorable works such as ‘Treasure Island’. Stevenson was born and educated in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. He came from a family of prominent engineers and suffered from ill-health all of his life. Despite suffering from bronchial problems all his life, he was a great traveler and wrote a great many works in a short span of years. While still a young man he began to write novels and short stories most of whom were well-received <ref> Balfour, Graham, The Life of Robert Louis Stevenson (London, Signet, 1983), pp 17-18</ref>. Stevenson wrote ‘Treasure Island’ in 1883 and this made him famous. In 1886 he was working on his follow-up. Stevenson had long been obsessed with the conflict in people, between good and evil. For many years he had been seeking to find a story that would allow him to tackle this subject. One day while lying in bed, because of ill-health, he had the idea, after recollecting a dream. Stevenson wrote the ‘Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ in a number of weeks in 1886. Many commentators have claimed that Stevenson was on drugs at the time, such as opium, for his illness <ref>Balfour, p. 121</ref>. Later the Scottish author wrote ‘Kidnapped’, which was another great success. However, his health declined and he moved to Samoa in the South Pacific for the sake of his health, Stevenson died in 1894, in the South Sea island <ref>Barbour, p. 2013</ref>.[[File: Jekyll and Hyde 2.jpg |200px|thumb|left|a 19TH Century poster for a drama based on Jekyll and Hyde]]==The plot of the novel==The novel opens with John Utterson, telling an acquittance of his, the strange story of Dr. Jekyll. A man, Edward Hyde, has run over a child and for some reason, the injured girl’s family were compensated by Dr. Jekyll, a very respected medic. Utterson states that he believes that Hyde is blackmailing the doctor. The following year, Hyde attacks one of Edinburgh’s leading citizens and murders him, in the street. Utterson becomes involved in the case because he is Jekyll’s lawyer and not just his friend. In the doctor’s house, the murder weapon used by Hyde is discovered. Jekyll claims that Hyde has run away and produces a handwritten note, allegedly written by the wanted man<ref>Stevenson, Robert Louis. Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (London, Penguin, 1991), p. 13</ref>. The doctor who is also an eminent scientist begins to lock himself away in his laboratory. One day, Utterson who has not seen Jekyll for some time and his servants break into the laboratory. They find Hyde dead and mysteriously dressed in Jekyll’s clothes. A letter is found alongside the body and Utterson takes it home and reads it. This letter was written by Jekyll and he states that he and Mr. Hyde are the same people. In a second letter that had earlier been given to Utterson, Jekyll explains everything <ref>Stevenson, p. 16</ref>. He narrates that he developed a potion, which he hoped to control his evil impulses. He had developed a potion or elixir which he hoped would enable him to control his dark desires and drives. Jekyll transformed himself when he drank the potion and he would transform, into a deranged and sinister figure, by the name of Edward Hyde. It is intimated in the novella that Jekyll when he transformed engaged in unnamed vices and crimes<ref>Stevenson, p. 34</ref>. However, soon, he began to transform involuntarily, without even drinking his concoction. The doctor writes that he knows that Hyde is evil and is the embodiment of his dark side. He believes that he is slowly transforming himself into Mr. Hyde and fears that his alter ego will commit many heinous acts and crimes. The letter suddenly breaks off, this suggests that Jekyll has permanently and irrevocably changed into the evil Hyde. Utterson, speculates that Hyde knew that he would soon be caught, and he committed suicide so that he would not be apprehended and hanged <ref>Stevenson, p. 67</ref>.[[File: Jekyll and Hyde 4.jpg |200px|thumb|left|Robert Louis Stevenson c 1885]]__NOTOC__
==The Gothic tradition==The story and its characters There are very much influenced by the Gothic horror a select number of literary tradition. These are tales of works whose characters have entered the supernatural and they are set in spooky placespublic imagination. Certainly, there are many One of these is the motifs of this genre in the novella. ‘The Strange ‘Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ has many of the themes and motifs of this genre. The Gothic explored how humans could become inhumanHyde. ’ This can be seen in work on the transformation nature of Dr. Jekyllgood and evil in human nature has spawned countless movies, plays, a respectable member of societytelevision shows, into the sociopath Hydecomics, who is truly monstrous <ref> John Aand movies. Evil The Shadow Side two main characters have come to represent the duality of Reality (NJ, Crossroad, 1981), phuman nature and split personalities.Dr. 113</ref>Jekyll and Mr. Another theme Hyde, although written in Gothic literature is that of the dangers of scientific investigation. This is perhaps seen in Shelley’s19th century, Frankenstein. Dr. Jekyll is in many ways an archetypical ‘mad scientist’ who transgresses by peering into nature’s mysteries and pays still as relevant today as over a terrible pricecentury ago.What are the possible historical figures and literary sources that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write one of the greatest horror stories?
Buzwell, Greg. "Man Is Not Truly One, but Truly Two': Duality in Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde."." The British Library (2014), pp 1-5====References====<references/>
==References==[[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:British History]] [[Category:19th Century History]][[Category:Historically Accurate]]
Admin moved page Was the story of Jekyll and Hyde based on real-life characters? to Was the story of Jekyll and Hyde based on real-life characters
==Louis Vivet: Multiple Personality==The story behind the novel====In the mid-to-late 19th century, doctors were beginning to understand the mental processes of the human mind [[File: Jekyll and Hyde 2.jpg |250px|thumbnail|left|a 19TH Century poster for a drama based on Jekyll and began to treat mental health as an illness Hyde]] Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) is one of the greatest of all Scottish writers and not the author of many memorable works such as some character flaw or punishment from god‘Treasure Island. In the 1860s ’ Stevenson was born and 1870seducated in Edinburgh, doctors were beginning to develop modern psychiatrythe capital of Scotland. He came from a family of prominent engineers and suffered from ill-health all of his life. Despite suffering from bronchial problems all his life, especially in France. There he was a great deal of public interest traveler and wrote a great many works in this new science and it was widely reported in British newspapersa short span of years. One case of mental illness that caused While still a sensation at the timeyoung man he began to write novels and short stories most of whom were well-received.<ref>Balfour, Graham, was that The Life of Robert Louis Vivet. He was the first person to be diagnosed with split or multiple personalitiesStevenson (London, Signet, known today as dissociative identity disorder. Vivet was born in 18631983), to a prostitute pp 17-18</ref> Stevenson wrote ‘Treasure Island’ in Paris1883, who neglected and abused this made himfamous. He turned to crime at the age of 8 and In 1886 he was sent to a youth prison. When working on a farm he was bitten by a snake and became semihis follow-paralyzed and unable to walkup. At the timeStevenson had long been obsessed with the conflict in people, those who were paralyzed were sent between good and evil. For many years he had been seeking to find a local asylumstory that would allow him to tackle this subject. One daywhile lying in bed, because of ill-health, Vivet begins to walk suddenly and this astonished he had the doctorsidea, after recollecting a dream. A number Stevenson wrote the ‘Strange case of medics interested in psychiatry Dr. Jekyll and placed him under hypnosis, to their amazement, they found that Vivet has multiple personalitiesMr. The Vivet case, with his reported dozen personality, was Hyde’ in a topic number of much debate weeks in intellectual circles1886. It appears Many commentators have claimed that Stevenson was aware of on drugs at the story of the Frenchmantime, such as opium, for his illness. It seems that the idea for one person<ref>Balfour, to have two personalities p. 121</ref> Later, the Scottish author wrote ‘Kidnapped,’ which was inspired by another great success. However, his health declined, and he moved to Samoa in the South Pacific for the story sake of Vivet. It was this case that persuaded him to write about the duality his health, Stevenson died in human nature and human’s inner struggle1894, as they are torn between good and evilin the South Sea island.<ref>Barbour, p. 2013</ref> [[File: Jekyll and Hyde 3====The plot of the novel====[[File: Jekyll and Hyde 4.jpg |200px250px|thumbthumbnail|left|A modern figure of Deacon BrodieRobert Louis Stevenson c 1885]]==Was The novel opens with John Utterson, telling an acquittance of his, the strange story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. A man, Edward Hyde , has run over a Scottish criminal==Edward Hyde in child, and for some reason, the work injured girl’s family were compensated by Stevenson is not only the alter ego of Dr. Jekyll, but a very respected medic. Utterson states that he was also believes that Hyde is blackmailing the personification doctor. The following year, Hyde attacks one of Edinburgh’s leading citizens and murders him in the evil that lurks street. Utterson becomes involved in every human. Hyde was the case because he is Jekyll’s lawyer and not just a symbol he was based on a real-life figurehis friend. In the doctor’s house, namely William Brodiethe murder weapon used by Hyde is discovered. He was an infamous criminal Jekyll claims that Hyde has run away and produces a clergyman and handwritten note, allegedly written by the young wanted man.<ref>Stevenson, Robert Louis Stevenson was familiar with the story . The Strange Case of his life Dr. Jekyll and crimesMr. William BrodieHyde (London, Penguin, known as Deacon Brodie1991), was from one of the most eminent families in Edinburghp. His family was one of the wealthiest and esteemed 13</ref> The doctor who is also an eminent scientist begins to lock himself away in the Scottish capital his laboratory. One day, Utterson, who has not seen Jekyll for some time and his servants break into the laboratory. They find Hyde dead and several Brodie’s had served mysteriously dressed in the City CouncilJekyll’s clothes. Brodie was apprenticed to a cabinet maker A letter is found alongside the body, and Utterson takes it home and later established himself in business in the mid-eighteenth centuryreads it. He made cabinets and also fitted locks for some of Edinburgh’s leading families. However, Brodie led a secret lifeJekyll wrote this letter, and he was addicted to gambling stated that he and had Mr. Hyde are the same people. In a secret loversecond letter that had earlier been given to Utterson, Jekyll explains everything. <ref> GibsonStevenson, John Sibbald Deacon Brodie: Father to Jekyll and Hyde (Edinburg, Saltire Society, 1997), p. 12<p. 16</ref>. In order He narrates that he developed a potion, which he hoped to support control his lifestyleevil impulses. He had developed a potion or elixir, which he used hoped would enable him to control his locksmith skills to burglarize dark desires and drives. Jekyll transformed himself when he drank the homes of the wealthy. It is believed that Brodie robbed houses for 20 years until potion, and he was captured would change, into a deranged and publicly hanged. He successfully kept his double-life a secret for twenty yearssinister figure, by the name of Edward Hyde. Brodie was possibly a model for both In the novella where Jekyll transformed engaged in unnamed vices and Hydecrimes. His double-life was similar <ref>Stevenson, p. 34</ref> However, soon, he began to the one Jekyll led transform involuntarily, without even drinking his concoction. The doctor writes that he knows that Hyde is evil and is the embodiment of his crimes such as burglary dark side. He believes that he is slowly transforming himself into Mr. Hyde and theft are similar to those committed by fears that he alter ego will commit many heinous acts and crimes. The letter suddenly breaks off; this break suggested that Jekyll has permanently and irrevocably changed into the evil Hyde in the novella. Stevenson was fascinated by BrodieUtterson, speculates that Hyde knew that he would soon be caught, even though and he committed suicide so that he had been would not be apprehended and hanged in the gallows many years before he was born .<ref>GibsonStevenson, p. 1367</ref> ====The Gothic tradition====The Gothic horror literary tradition very much influences the story and its characters. ApparentlyThese are tales of the supernatural, and they are set in spooky places. Certainly, there was a cabinet made by are many of the burglar motifs of this genre in his family home the novella. ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and he wrote a play based on Mr. Hyde’ has many of the criminal while a teenagerthemes and motifs of this genre. The Gothic explored how humans could become inhuman. This theme is considered by some to be an early draft of what would become present in the ‘Strange Case transformation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’. ==A French Jekyll==Stevenson got the name Jekyll from Reverend Walter Jekyll, a friend of Stevensona respectable member of society, into the sociopath Hyde, who is truly monstrous. He was a very respectable figure in Edinburgh<ref> John A. HoweverEvil The Shadow Side of Reality (NJ, Crossroad, 1981), another friend of his youth appears to have at least partly inspired p.. 113</ref> Another theme in Gothic literature is that of the character dangers of scientific investigation. This is also present in Shelley’s Frankenstein. Dr. Jekyll. In his youthis, Stevenson became the friend of a former medical student in many ways, an archetypical ‘mad scientist’ who transgresses by peering into nature’s mysteries and pays a French language teacherterrible price. It appears that the two were introduced by the former teacher of Stevenson ====Louis Vivet: Multiple Personality====[[File: Jekyll and Hyde 3. Chantrelle was a charismatic and charming jpg |250px|thumb|left|A modern figure and something of a ladies man. The future author of Kidnapped and Treasure IslandDeacon Brodie]] In the mid-to-late 19th century, apparently liked doctors were beginning to practice his French with Chantrelle, over drinksunderstand the mental processes of the human mind and began to treat mental health as an illness and not as some character flaw or punishment from god. In reality, the Scottish author1860s and 1870s, knowdoctors were beginning to develop modern psychiatry, that he especially in France. There was having a good time with a devil. Chantrelle was a sexual predator great deal of public interest in this new science, and possibly a serial killer. The Frenchman it was arrested for widely reported in British newspapers. One case of mental illness that caused a sensation at the murder time was that of his wife <ref>BradleyLouis Vivet. Vivet was the first person to be diagnosed with split or multiple personalities, Jane Real-life Jekyll & Hyde who inspired Stevenson’s classicknown today as dissociative identity disorder. Vivet was born in 1863, The Scotsmanto a prostitute in Paris, 25 November 2016, pwho neglected and abused him. 4</ref>She He turned to crime at the age of 8 and was only sent to a naïve 16-year-old girl from Edinburgh when she youth prison. When working on a farm, he was introduced bitten by a snake and fell in love with the French charmer. However, after their marriage, he abused her horribly became semi-paralyzed and later coldly murdered her, for moneyunable to walk. At the trialtime, it emerged that Chantrelle had been preying on young women for yearsthose who were paralyzed were sent to a local asylum. It appears that he also may have poisoned some One day, Vivet begins to walk suddenly, and many may have died as a result<ref>Bradley, pthis astonished the doctors. 4</ref>A number of medics interested in psychiatry and placed him under hypnosis, to their amazement, they found that Vivet has multiple personalities. The trialVivet case, with his reported dozen personality, which Stevenson attended caused was a sensation at the timetopic of much debate in intellectual circles. The young author It appears that Stevenson was surprised and later profoundly shocked by the discovery that he had been a friend aware of a monsterVivet's story. Stevenson became preoccupied with It seems that the story of Vivet inspired the idea for one person to have two-fold nature of people, who could be inexplicably evil personalities. It was this case that persuaded him to write about the duality in human nature and yet also decentour inner struggle, after the trial of Chantrelle. This theme of the double nature of humanity is one of the most important in his novella of 1883as they are torn between good and evil. Chantrelle was hanged in Edinburgh in 1878. ==Conclusion==Was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a great storyScottish criminal====Edward Hyde, at once a classic of in the horror genre and also a thriller. The story of work by Stevenson, is not only the apparently respectable doctor and his alter ego tells us something about our inner natureof Dr. NaturallyJekyll, but he was also the story is only a work personification of fiction, but it is rooted the evil that lurks in historical factevery human. Stevenson Hyde was clearly influenced by the emerging science of psychiatry and especially the case of Vivat. Then not just a symbol; he had was based on a lifereal-long obsession with the life and crimes of Deacon figure, namely William Brodie. He was an infamous criminal and a perfect example of clergyman, and the duality young Robert Louis Stevenson was familiar with the story of the human condition, at one respectable his life and moralcrimes. William Brodie, at other times malign and dark. The double life known as Deacon Brodie, was from one of the most eminent families in Edinburgh cabinet maker, undoubtedly, influenced . His family was one of the wealthiest and esteemed in the Scottish authorcapital, and several Brodie’s had served in the creation of both Hyde and JekyllCity Council. Stevenson appears Brodie was apprenticed to have been profoundly a cabinet maker and later established himself in business in the mid-eighteenth century. He made cabinets and also fitted locks for some of Edinburgh’s leading families. However, Brodie led a secret life. He was addicted to gambling and had a secret lover.<ref> Gibson, John Sibbald Deacon Brodie: Father to Jekyll and Hyde (Edinburg, Saltire Society, 1997), p. 12</ref> To support his lifestyle, he used his locksmith skills to burglarize the homes of the wealthy. It is believed that Brodie robbed houses for 20 years until he was captured and publicly hanged. He successfully kept his double-life a secret for twenty years. Brodie was possibly a model for both Jekyll and Hyde. His double-life was similar to Jekyll's. His crimes, such as burglary and theft, are identical to those committed by Hyde in the novella. Stevenson was fascinated by Brodie, even though he had been hanged in the gallows many years before he was born.<ref>Gibson, p. 13</ref> Apparently, there was a cabinet made by the burglar in his family home, and he wrote a play based on the criminal while a teenager. This is considered by some to be an early draft of what would become the ‘Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.’ ====A French Jekyll====Stevenson got the name Jekyll from Reverend Walter Jekyll, a friend of Stevenson. He was a very respectable figure in Edinburgh. However, another friend of his youth appears to have at least partly inspired the character of Jekyll. In his youth, Stevenson became the friend of a former medical student and a French language teacher. It appears that the former teacher of Stevenson introduced the two. Chantrelle was a charismatic and charming figure and something of a ladies man. The future author of Kidnapped and Treasure Island, apparently liked to practice his French with Chantrelle, over drinks. In reality, the Scottish author knew that he was having a good time with a devil. Chantrelle was a sexual predator and possibly a serial killer. The Frenchman was arrested for the murder of his wife.<ref>Bradley, Jane Real-life Jekyll & Hyde, who inspired Stevenson’s classic, The Scotsman, 25 November 2016, p. 4</ref> She was only a naïve 16-year-old girl from Edinburgh when she was introduced and fell in love with the French charmer. However, after their marriage, he abused her horribly and later coldly murdered her, for money. At the trial, it emerged that Chantrelle had been preying on young women for years. He also may have poisoned some, and many may have died as a result.<ref>Bradley, p. 4</ref> The trial, which Stevenson attended, caused a sensation at the time. The young author was surprised and later profoundly shocked by the discovery that he had been a friend of a monster. Stevenson became preoccupied with the two-fold nature of people, who could be inexplicably evil and yet also decent, after the trial of Chantrelle. This theme of the double nature of humanity is one of the most important in his novella of 1883. Chantrelle was hanged in Edinburgh in 1878. ====Conclusion====Jekyll and Hyde is a great story, at once a classic of the horror genre and also a thriller. The story of the respectable doctor and his alter ego tells us something about our inner nature. Naturally, the story is only a work of fiction, but it is rooted in historical fact. Stevenson was clearly influenced by the emerging science of psychiatry and especially the case of Vivat. Then he had a life-long obsession with the life and crimes of Deacon Brodie. He was a perfect example of the duality of the human condition, at one respectable and moral, at other times, malign and dark. The double life of the Edinburgh cabinet maker, undoubtedly, influenced the Scottish author, in the creation of both Hyde and Jekyll. Stevenson appears to have been profoundly shaken by the discovery that his friend, Chantrelle, was a murderer. The French killer was probably the model for Dr. Jekyll. by the discovery that his friend, Chantrelle, was a murderer. The French killer was probably the model for Dr. Jekyll. ====Further Reading==Further Reading==
D'amato, Barbara. "Jekyll and Hyde: A Literary Forerunner to Freud's Discovery of the Unconscious." Modern Psychoanalysis 30, no. 1 (2005): 92-106.
Doane, J. , and Hodges, D., 1989, October. Demonic Disturbances of Sexual Identity: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr/s Hyde. In Novel: A Forum on Fiction (Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 63-74). Duke University Press. Buzwell, Greg. "Man Is Not Truly One, but Truly Two': Duality in Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."." The British Library (2014), pp 1-5